Portable electronic apparatus with multiple screens

ABSTRACT

A portable electronic apparatus with multiple screens includes a first screen and a second screen movably coupled to the first screen along an arcuate path to be received in the first screen or moved out of the first screen. The first screen and the second screen face a same side of the portable electronic apparatus. The second screen includes a base, a lifting mechanism disposed on the base, and a display unit. The display unit is disposed on the lifting mechanism to be driven by the lifting mechanism to be lifted or lowered relative to the base. When the second screen is moved out of the first screen and a step is provided between a display surface of the display unit and a display surface of the first screen, the display unit is adapted to be lifted relative to the base through the lifting mechanism to compensate the step.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the priority benefit of Taiwan applicationserial no. 109136631, filed on Oct. 22, 2020. The entirety of theabove-mentioned patent application is hereby incorporated by referenceherein and made a part of this specification.

BACKGROUND Technical Field

The disclosure relates to a portable electronic apparatus, and inparticular, to a portable electronic apparatus with multiple screens.

Description of Related Art

Portable electronic apparatuses, such as pocket personal computers,handheld computers, notebook computers, personal tablet computers, andpersonal digital assistants (PDAs) become more and more common. In orderto provide users with more diversified operation and viewing modes,portable electronic apparatuses with multiple screens are provided. Atpresent, in most of the portable electronic apparatuses with multiplescreens, linkage structures are adopted for pivotally connection, sothat any two screens are suitable for relative rotation, and anunfolding angle may be maintained.

Nevertheless, through the linkage structure, an obvious step is providedbetween the main screen and the secondary screen in a portableelectronic apparatus with multiple screens. A poor visual effect isthereby provided, and the appearance of the product may not be assatisfactory as expected. Further, the linkage structure connectingmultiple screens is complex and thus may not be operated easily. Assuch, the user may not enjoy a favorable using experience when using theportable electronic apparatus with multiple screens.

Accordingly, how to eliminate the step between the main screen and thesecondary screen in a portable electronic apparatus with multiplescreens to improve overall appearance and provide good operationflexibility and a favorable using experience is an important issue.

SUMMARY

The disclosure provides a portable electronic apparatus with multiplescreens in which a step provided when a second screen is moved out ofthe first screen is compensated through a lifting mechanism, and thatgood operation flexibility and a favorable overall appearance areprovided.

A portable electronic apparatus with multiple screens provided by thedisclosure includes a first screen and a second screen. The secondscreen is movably coupled to the first screen along an arcuate path tobe received in the first screen or moved out of the first screen. Adisplay surface of the first screen and a display surface of the secondscreen face a same direction. The second screen includes a base, alifting mechanism, and a display unit. The lifting mechanism is disposedon the base. The display unit is disposed on the lifting mechanism to bedriven by the lifting mechanism to be lifted or lowered relative to thebase. When the second screen is moved out of the first screen and a stepis provided between a display surface of the display unit and thedisplay surface of the first screen, the display unit is adapted to belifted relative to the base through the lifting mechanism to compensatethe step.

To sum up, in the portable electronic apparatus with multiple screensprovided by the disclosure, the second screen is movably coupled to thefirst screen to be received in the first screen or to be moved out ofthe first screen. Moreover, the second screen may be lifted or loweredthrough the lifting mechanism and drives the display unit on the liftingmechanism to be lifted or lowered relative to the base. Accordingly,when the second screen is moved out of the first screen and a step isprovided between the display surface of the display unit and the displaysurface of the first screen, the display unit is adapted to be liftedrelative to the base through the lifting mechanism to compensate thestep. In this way, the portable electronic apparatus with multiplescreens may exhibit good operation flexibility and provides an appealingoverall appearance, and a user may therefor enjoy a favorable visualeffect when operating the portable electronic apparatus with multiplescreens.

To make the aforementioned more comprehensible, several embodimentsaccompanied with drawings are described in detail as follows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the disclosure, and are incorporated in and constitutea part of this specification. The drawings illustrate exemplaryembodiments of the disclosure and, together with the description, serveto explain the principles of the disclosure.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a portable electronic apparatus in a firststate according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2A is a schematic view of some members of the portable electronicapparatus of FIG. 1 from another viewing angle.

FIG. 2B is a local enlargement view of FIG. 2A from another viewingangle.

FIG. 3 is a local enlargement top view of the portable electronicapparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a local enlargement top view of the portable electronicapparatus of FIG. 1 in a second state.

FIG. 5 is a three-dimensional schematic view of a lifting mechanism ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a three-dimensional schematic view of the lifting mechanism ofFIG. 5 combined with a power assembly.

FIG. 7 is an exploded schematic view of the lifting mechanism and thepower assembly of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 illustrates the lifting mechanism and the power assembly of FIG.6 from another viewing angle.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a portable electronic apparatus in a firststate according to an embodiment of the disclosure, and some members areshown in an exploded view. FIG. 2A is a schematic view of some membersof the portable electronic apparatus of FIG. 1 from another viewingangle. FIG. 2B is a local enlargement view of FIG. 2A from anotherviewing angle. FIG. 3 is a local enlargement top view of the portableelectronic apparatus of FIG. 1. With reference to FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, inthis embodiment, a portable electronic apparatus 1 with multiple screensis, for example, a notebook computer and includes a host 40 and aplurality of screens pivotally connected to the host 40. In the presentembodiment, these screens include a first screen 10 (main screen) and apair of second screens 20 (secondary screens). Herein, the secondscreens 20 are located at two opposite sides of the first screen 10, adisplay surface of the first screen 10 and display surfaces of thesecond screens 20 face a same direction, and the second screens 20 maybe movably coupled to the first screen 10 to be received in the firstscreen 10 or moved out of the first screen 10, so that a user may adjustan entire size of the screens according to needs. A number of the secondscreens 20 is not limited herein, and in another embodiment that is notshown, only a single second screen may used to be assembled to the firstscreen.

To be specific, as shown in FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B, the first screen 10 hastwo guiding members 12, and side edges of the second screens 20 has twoarcuate tracks 22. The guiding members 12 are disposed relative to thearcuate tracks 22 of the second screens 20. In this way, the guidingmembers 12 may move along arcuate paths C to be coupled to the arcuatetracks 22, so that the second screens 20 may be received in the firstscreen 10 or may be moved out of the first screen 10.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, relationships between structures of thispair of second screens 20 and the corresponding first screen 10 areconsistent. Therefore, only one side of the second screens 20 isdescribed in this embodiment. The second screen 20 includes a base 24,two lifting mechanisms 26, and a display unit 28. The lifting mechanisms26 are disposed on the base 24, and the display unit 28 is disposed onthe lifting mechanisms 26 to be driven by the lifting mechanisms 26 tobe lifted or lowered relative to the base 24.

FIG. 4 is a local enlargement top view of the portable electronicapparatus of FIG. 1 in a second state. The first state and the secondstate of the portable electronic apparatus 1 are described below.

With reference to FIG. 1, FIG. 3, and FIG. 4 together, in thisembodiment, when the second screen 20 is just moved out of the firstscreen 10 as in the first state, a step S is provided between a displaysurface of the display unit 28 and a display surface of a display unit14 of the first screen 10, as shown in FIG. 3. Next, the user may drivethe display unit 28 located on the lifting mechanisms 26 to be liftedrelative to the base 24 through the lifting mechanisms 26 to compensatethe step S, so that the portable electronic apparatus 1 is transferredfrom the first state to the second state, as shown in FIG. 4.

Further, the first screen 10 provided in this embodiment is a curvedscreen, and the second screen 20 is a flat screen. As such, in thesecond state when the second screen 20 is moved out of the first screen10 and is driven by the lifting mechanisms 26 to be lifted relative tothe base 24 (FIG. 4 and FIG. 5), an edge of the display surface of thedisplay unit 14 may be aligned with an edge of the display surface ofthe display unit 28. In this way, the step S is eliminated throughalignment of the display surface of the display unit 28 and the displaysurface of the display unit 14, and at the same time, the first screen10 and the second screen 20 are combined as a whole. As such, anappealing appearance is provided, and the user may enjoy athree-dimensional broad visual experience.

FIG. 5 is a three-dimensional schematic view of a lifting mechanism ofFIG. 1. FIG. 6 is a three-dimensional schematic view of the liftingmechanism of FIG. 5 combined with a power assembly. FIG. 7 is anexploded schematic view of the lifting mechanism and the power assemblyof FIG. 6. With reference to FIG. 5 to FIG. 7 together, in thisembodiment, the lifting mechanism 26 includes a bottom plate 261, acarrier platform 262, and a scissor linkage group 263. The bottom plate261 is disposed on the base 24 and has a pair of first sliding slots2611. The carrier platform 262 has a pair of second sliding slots 2621,and the display unit 28 is disposed on the carrier platform 262. Thescissor linkage group 263 has a plurality of pivotal connection ends263A and a plurality of sliding ends 263B. The pivotal connection end263A are pivotally connected to the bottom plate 261 and the carrierplatform 262, and the sliding ends 263B individually pivot and areslidably coupled to the first sliding slots 2611 and the second slidingslots 2621.

To be specific, in this embodiment, the scissor linkage group 263includes a pair of first linkages 2631 and a pair of second linkages2632. Herein, each of the first linkages 2631 and the second linkages2632 has the pivotal connection end 263A and the sliding end 263B. Thefirst linkages 2631 and the second linkages 2632 are pivotally connectedto each other at specific locations (pivotal connection holes 263C), andthe pivotal connection holes 263C are located between the pivotalconnection ends 263A and the sliding ends 263B.

Further, in this embodiment, the first sliding slots 2611 are disposedat two opposite sides of the bottom plate 261 in pair, and the secondsliding slots 2621 are disposed at two opposite sides of the carrierplatform 262 in pair. Moreover, the first sliding slots 2611 and thesecond sliding slots 2621 correspond to each other, so that the slidingends 263B of the scissor linkage group 263 may synchronously move in asame direction. Further, pivoting axes X1 of the pivotal connection ends263A are parallel to pivoting axes X2 of the sliding ends 263B, andmoving paths of the sliding ends 263B are parallel to each other. Inthis way, the carrier platform 262 may be lifted or lowered relative tothe bottom plate 261 in parallel.

FIG. 8 illustrates the lifting mechanism and the power assembly of FIG.6 from another viewing angle. Note that the bottom plate 261 of thelifting mechanism 26 is depicted in dotted lines in FIG. 8 to facilitatedescription of the lifting mechanism 26 and a power assembly 27.

With reference to FIG. 6 to FIG. 8 together, in this embodiment, theportable electronic apparatus 1 further includes two power assemblies27, and the scissor linkage group 263 is located between the two powerassemblies 27. The two power assemblies 27 are connected to the twosliding ends 263B of the scissor linkage group 263, and the scissorlinkage group 263 and the power assemblies 27 are located at twoopposite sides of the first sliding slot 2611 of the bottom plate 261.

To be specific, in this embodiment, each power assembly 27 includes amotor 271, a screw shaft 272, a guiding shaft 273, and a sliding block274. The motor 271 and the guiding shaft 273 are disposed on the base24, and the screw shaft 272 is connected to the motor 271. The slidingblock 274 is screwed to the screw shaft 272 and is slidably connected tothe guiding shaft 273, and the sliding block 274 is connected to thesliding end 263B of the scissor linkage group 263.

To be specific, in this embodiment, the motor 271 may drive the slidingblock 274 through the screw shaft 272 and synchronously drives thesliding ends 263B to move along the first sliding slot 2611 and thesecond sliding slot 2621. Further, moving paths of the screw shaft 272,the guiding shaft 273, and the sliding block 274 of the power assembly27 and the moving paths of the sliding ends 263B of the scissor linkagegroup 263 are parallel to each other. In this way, the scissor linkagegroup 263 of the lifting mechanism 26 may drive the display unit 28disposed on the lifting mechanism 26 to be lifted or lowered relative tothe base 24 when being driven by the power assembly 27.

Further, in this embodiment, the portable electronic apparatus 1 mayfurther includes two auxiliary members 30. Each of the first slidingslots 2611 and the sliding block 274 of each of the power assemblies 27are located at two opposite sides of the each of the auxiliary members30, and each of the auxiliary members 30 is connected to the slidingblock 274 of each of the power assemblies 27. Moreover, the slidingblock 274 of each of the power assemblies 27 further includes anengaging portion 2741. The engaging portion 2741 extends towards thescissor linkage group 263, and the engaging portion 2741 may bedetachably engaged with the auxiliary member 30.

To be more specific, in this embodiment, the scissor linkage group 263further includes two pivotal connection members 263. The pivotalconnection members 2633 are located at the sliding ends 263B of thesecond linkage 2632, and the pivotal connection members 2633 are suitedto pass through the first sliding slots 2611 of the bottom plate 261 tobe connected to the auxiliary members 30. Therefore, the power assembly27 may be connected to the lifting mechanism 26 through the auxiliarymembers 30, the engaging portion 2741, and the pivotal connectionmembers 2633 to drive the lifting mechanism 26 to be lifted or lowered.

In addition, in this embodiment, the portable electronic apparatus 1further includes a control module 32 and a sensing module (not shown).The control module 32 is suited to be electrically connected to themotor 271 of the power assembly 27 to drive the display unit 28 of thesecond screen 20 to be lifted or lowered through the motor 271 after thesecond screen 20 is moved out of the first screen 10. The sensing moduleis suited to be electrically connected to the control module 32, so thatthe control module 32 may sense whether the second screen 20 is movedout of the first screen 10 through the sensing module. Herein, thecontrol module 32 is exemplified as an electronic device disposed on aflexible circuit board (FPC) as shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 8. The sensingmodule is, for example, a track sensor such as an optical (infrared)sensor disposed on the arcuate track 22 of the guiding member 12 toaccordingly determine whether the second screen 20 is completely movedout of the first screen 10.

Note that in the foregoing, only the process of driving by liftingmechanism 26 to be lifted or lowered by the motor 271 of the powerassembly 27 is described, but in other embodiments, it may be expectedthat the lifting mechanism 26 of the portable electronic apparatus 1 maybe lifted or lowered through manual operation, for example. A method anda form in which the power assembly 27 provides power to the liftingmechanism 26 are not particularly limited in the disclosure.

In view of the foregoing, in the portable electronic apparatus withmultiple screens provided by the disclosure, the second screens aremovably coupled to the first screen to be received in the first screenor to be moved out of the first screen. Moreover, the second screens maybe lifted or lowered through the lifting mechanisms and drive thedisplay units on the lifting mechanisms to be lifted or lowered relativeto the base. Accordingly, when the second screens are moved out of thefirst screen and steps are provided between the display surfaces of thedisplay units and the display surface of the first screen, the displayunits are adapted to be lifted relative to the base through the liftingmechanisms to compensate the steps. In this way, the portable electronicapparatus may exhibit good operation flexibility and provides anappealing overall appearance, and a user may therefor enjoy a favorablevisual effect when operating the portable electronic apparatus.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications and variations can be made to the disclosed embodimentswithout departing from the scope or spirit of the disclosure. In view ofthe foregoing, it is intended that the disclosure covers modificationsand variations provided that they fall within the scope of the followingclaims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A portable electronic apparatus with multiplescreens, comprising: a first screen; and a second screen, movablycoupled to the first screen along an arcuate path to be received in thefirst screen or moved out of the first screen, wherein a display surfaceof the first screen and a display surface of the second screen face asame direction, and the second screen comprises: a base; at least onelifting mechanism, disposed on the base; and a display unit, disposed onthe at least one lifting mechanism to be driven by the at least onelifting mechanism to be lifted or lowered relative to the base, whereinwhen the second screen is moved out of the first screen and a step isprovided between a display surface of the display unit and the displaysurface of the first screen, the display unit is adapted to be liftedrelative to the base through the at least one lifting mechanism tocompensate the step.
 2. The portable electronic apparatus with multiplescreens according to claim 1, wherein the at least one lifting mechanismcomprises: a bottom plate, disposed on the base, having a pair of firstsliding slots; a carrier platform, having a pair of second slidingslots, the display unit disposed on the carrier platform; and a scissorlinkage group, having a plurality of pivotal connection ends and aplurality of sliding ends, wherein the pivotal connection ends arepivotally connected to the bottom plate and the carrier platform, andthe sliding ends individually pivot and are slidably coupled to thefirst sliding slots and the second sliding slots.
 3. The portableelectronic apparatus with multiple screens according to claim 2, whereinthe scissor linkage group comprises a pair of first linkages and a pairof second linkages pivotally connected to each other at specificlocations, each of the first linkages and the second linkages has thepivotal connection end and the sliding end, and the locations arelocated between the pivotal connection ends and the sliding ends.
 4. Theportable electronic apparatus with multiple screens according to claim2, wherein the sliding ends move synchronously in a same direction,pivoting axes of the pivotal connection ends are parallel to pivotingaxes of the sliding ends, and moving paths of the sliding ends areparallel to each other, such that the carrier platform is lifted orlowered parallel to the bottom plate.
 5. The portable electronicapparatus with multiple screens according to claim 2, further comprisingat least one power assembly, connected to the pair of sliding ends,wherein the at least one power assembly comprises: a motor, disposed onthe base; a screw shaft, connected to the motor; a guiding shaft,disposed on the base; and a sliding block, screwed to the screw shaft,slidably connected to the guiding shaft, wherein the sliding block isconnected to the sliding end, and the motor drives the sliding blockthrough the screw shaft and synchronously drives the sliding ends tomove along the first sliding slot and the second sliding slot.
 6. Theportable electronic apparatus with multiple screens according to claim5, wherein moving paths of the screw shaft, the guiding shaft, and thesliding block and moving paths of the sliding ends are parallel to eachother.
 7. The portable electronic apparatus with multiple screensaccording to claim 5, wherein the scissor linkage group and the at leastone power assembly are located at two opposite sides of the firstsliding slot, the portable electronic apparatus further comprises atleast one auxiliary member connected to the sliding block, and thescissor linkage group further comprises at least one pivotal connectionmember penetrating through the first sliding slot and is connected tothe at least one auxiliary member.
 8. The portable electronic apparatuswith multiple screens according to claim 7, wherein the sliding blockhas an engaging portion extending towards the scissor linkage group, andthe engaging portion is detachably engaged with the at least oneauxiliary member.
 9. The portable electronic apparatus with multiplescreens according to claim 5, further comprising a control module,electrically connected to the motor to drive the display unit of thesecond screen to be lifted or lowered through the motor after the secondscreen is moved out of the first screen.
 10. The portable electronicapparatus with multiple screens according to claim 9, further comprisinga sensing module, electrically connected to the control module, whereinthe control module senses whether the second screen is moved out of thefirst screen through the sensing module.
 11. The portable electronicapparatus with multiple screens according to claim 1, wherein the firstscreen is a curved screen, and the second screen is a flat screen. 12.The portable electronic apparatus with multiple screens according toclaim 1, further comprising at least one guiding member, disposed on thefirst screen, wherein a side edge of the second screen has an arcuatetrack, and the at least one guiding member is coupled to the arcuatetrack.